Alternatives to Java
Alternative languages for the Java VM are hot: Groovy, JRuby, Scala, Clojure, and more. What is driving the interest in these alternative languages? Are these new, fancy-dancey languages just a fad; or maybe are you missing out by not knowing more about them? If you've been reluctant, or don't see where Java and these new languages fit in the “big picture”, start your alternative explorations in this talk.
Consider this talk a general survey of the most popular emerging alternative VM languages. Whats driving these languages is that these languages are able to express some very common, very useful concepts succinctly and easily – concepts that are difficult or even inexpressible in reliable old Java.
Mixins, code blocks and closures, singletons, built-in collection types, maps, folds, and many more inventions make coding some concepts orders of magnitude easier, shorter, and more readable than what is available in Java.
Even if you can't imagine programming anything but Java in your day job, you need to be aware of what's on the horizon – newer, alternative VM languages are the future. Come and learn about them before the wave rolls you by.
About Brian Maso
Brian is a long-time Java architect and real-world engineer, who can credibly wax nostagic about the JDK 1.0 beta days. In the decade since that release, Brian has worked mostly in and around places where web services and the Java VM reign. Clients have included: LeapFrog, Inc., GE Medical Systems, The Motor Cycle Council of America, Cardinal Health (Pyxis Corp. division), the U.S. Dept. of Defense, and many others.
Lately Brian has restricted his professional life to the bounds that his family of four children will allow, venturing away from coding and architecture work only to publish white papers, serve as an independent expert on the JSR 225 (XQJ) Expert Group, and of course share his astounding revelations to No Fluff Just Stuff symposium audiences.
Brian's specific interests include system integration through web services, ESBs and public service networks; and agile system- and unit-specification and testing.
In years past: Brian was the first Tips and Techniques Editor for the Java Developer's Journal; wrote four marginally useful technical books on Java and web development; was the first Java instructor for DevelopMentor, with whom he has delivered thousands of man-days of material to engineers across the maturity spectrum at companies and organizations across North America.
More About Brian »